Multiple integrals are used in many applications in physics and

engineering.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]

Apply multiple integrals to real world examples

KEY POINTS [ edit ]

Given a set D ⊆ Rn and an integrable function f over D, the average value of f over its domain is
given by f¯ =
1

m(D)
∫ D
f (x) dx , where m(D) is the measure of D.

The gravitational potential associated with a mass distribution given by a mass measure dm on
three-dimensional Euclidean space R3 is V (x) = −∫ R
3
|x
G

−r|
dm(r) .

An electric field produced by a distribution of charges given by the volume charge density ρ(r ) is ⃗
obtained by a triple integral of a vector function: E ⃗ =
1
∭ r ⃗ r⃗
−
′

ρ(r ⃗
′
)d
3
r
′
.
πϵ ∥r − r ⃗ ∥
⃗ ′
4 0
3

TERMS [ edit ]

Maxwell's equations
a set of partial differential equations that, together with the Lorentz force law, form the
foundation of classical electrodynamics, classical optics, and electric circuits

moment of inertia
a measure of a body's resistance to a change in its angular rotation velocity

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FULL TEXT [edit ]

As is the case with onevariable, one can use the multipleintegral to find theaverage of

afunction over a given set. Given a set D ⊆ Rn and an integrable function f over D, the average

value of f over its domain is given by f¯ =

1

m(D)
∫ D
f (x) d x , where m(D) is the measure of D.

Additionally, multiple integrals are used in many applications in physics and engineering.

The examples below also show some

variations in the notation.

Examples

1. In mechanics, the moment of inertia is

calculated as thevolume integral (triple

integral) of the density weighed with the

square of the distance from the axis: 

Iz = ∭ ρrV
2
dV .

2. The gravitational potential associated

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with a mass distribution given by a mass

measure dm on three-dimensionalEuclidean space R3 is V (x) = −∫ R

3
G

−r|
|x
d m(r)  . If there

is acontinuous function ρ(x) representing the density of the distribution at x, so that dm(x) =

ρ(x)d3x, where d3x is the Euclidean volume element, then the gravitational potential is 

V (x) = −∫ R
3
G

|x−r|
ρ(r) d 3
r .

dm(r)

A Mass to be Integrated
Points x and r, with r contained in the distributed mass (gray) and differential mass dm(r) located at the
point r.
3. In electromagnetism, Maxwell's equations can be written using multiple integrals to

calculate the total magnetic and electric fields. In the following example, the electric field

produced by a distribution of charges given by the volume charge density ρ(r )  is obtained by ⃗
⃗
a triple integral of a vectorfunction: E
1
∭ r ⃗ r⃗
−
′

ρ(r ⃗
′
) d
3
r
′
. This can also be written
=
4 πϵ 0 ⃗ r⃗ ∥
∥r −
′ 3

as an integral with respect to a signed measure representing the charge distribution.